Computer Graphics with Photoshop - Batch Creating Slightly Differing Images

Author

Batch Creating Slightly Differing Images

Kinu Panda

2005-08-18, 4:14 am

Hi all,

Long story short, I have an image which has a text layer that contains a
number, and I need to create a set of different images that only differ in
the text layer; that is, I need to end up with, say, 1000 similar images,
with the numbers 1 through 1000 on the text layer. Short of doing it by
hand, which is doable but is something I'd rather avoid, is there a method
involving writing a script (I have CS2) and then batch running it that would
give me the desired effect? If there's a solution out there, I'd be willing
to try that as well.

Thanks in advance,

~kinu

--
Kinu Panda
Spam Me: KINUMAN at yahoo! period com

Lorem Ipsum

2005-08-18, 7:15 pm

"Kinu Panda" <mtr@kinupanda.com> wrote in message
news:de15kp$16q$1@domitilla.aioe.org...

> Long story short, I have an image which has a text layer that contains a
> number, and I need to create a set of different images that only differ in
> the text layer; that is, I need to end up with, say, 1000 similar images,
> with the numbers 1 through 1000 on the text layer. [...]

CHEAP AND DIRTY way that works if you want to do it WITHOUT SCRIPTING.
The results are the same.
First, with your handy spreadsheet program create a single column as shown
here:

emumerate
1
2
3
(auto fill to 1,000. There is a button in every spreadsheet to do this)

Then save that file as comma delimited.

Now...
Open ImageReady (it comes with Photoshop).
Open the image you want to enumerate.
Create a new layer.
Type "1" in it with the text centered or right justifed, whatever. (This
will be replaced.)

Then right-click on that layer - to the right of the icon. (there are two
right-click options. You must click to the right of the icon.)
Take the Variables option.
In the first window, click on the lower option for [X] Text Replacement
Then type the word enumerate in the text box
press the NEXT button
Then in the window that shows next, press IMPORT
find the file you just created and press Open

To be safe, now save the file.

Finally, under the menu File - Export - Data Sets as Files
press OKAY

Wait a couple minutes and you will have 1000 photoshop images, each with a
text layer numbered 1 to 1000.

(In the last dialog - Export - you can change the naming convention to what
you like. It doesn't change the contents of the image. You can also use CS's
Browser to rename the files afterwards and batch the whole group of images
to JPEG or GIF if you like. Alternatively, there's a free Droplet in
Photoshop's "Samples" folder that will do this. Just drag it into the
folder, then drag all your files onto it.)

How's that for working around scripting? :)

FWIW, there is server technology that obviates making a thousand copies, and
fiinally if you are handy with Javascript, you can do this with one image
and layers that enumerates upon creation.)

Kinu Panda

2005-08-18, 7:15 pm

"Lorem Ipsum" <Lorem@ipsum.xxx> wrote in message
news:11g9e0cre819005@news.supernews.com...
> "Kinu Panda" <mtr@kinupanda.com> wrote in message
> news:de15kp$16q$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
>
>
> CHEAP AND DIRTY way that works if you want to do it WITHOUT SCRIPTING.
> The results are the same.
> First, with your handy spreadsheet program create a single column as shown
> here:
>
> emumerate
> 1
> 2
> 3
> (auto fill to 1,000. There is a button in every spreadsheet to do this)
>
> Then save that file as comma delimited.
>
> Now...
> Open ImageReady (it comes with Photoshop).
> Open the image you want to enumerate.
> Create a new layer.
> Type "1" in it with the text centered or right justifed, whatever. (This
> will be replaced.)
>
> Then right-click on that layer - to the right of the icon. (there are two
> right-click options. You must click to the right of the icon.)
> Take the Variables option.
> In the first window, click on the lower option for [X] Text Replacement
> Then type the word enumerate in the text box
> press the NEXT button
> Then in the window that shows next, press IMPORT
> find the file you just created and press Open
>
> To be safe, now save the file.
>
> Finally, under the menu File - Export - Data Sets as Files
> press OKAY
>
> Wait a couple minutes and you will have 1000 photoshop images, each with a
> text layer numbered 1 to 1000.
>
> (In the last dialog - Export - you can change the naming convention to
> what you like. It doesn't change the contents of the image. You can also
> use CS's Browser to rename the files afterwards and batch the whole group
> of images to JPEG or GIF if you like. Alternatively, there's a free
> Droplet in Photoshop's "Samples" folder that will do this. Just drag it
> into the folder, then drag all your files onto it.)
>
> How's that for working around scripting? :)
>
> FWIW, there is server technology that obviates making a thousand copies,
> and fiinally if you are handy with Javascript, you can do this with one
> image and layers that enumerates upon creation.)

Wow... just wow. That's EXACTLY what I needed, and it works really well.
Granted, I was willing to get my hands dirty with scripting and whatnot, but
I'm glad that such a simpler solution exists. Many thanks!

~kinu

--
Kinu Panda
Spam Me: KINUMAN at yahoo! period com

KatWoman

2005-08-18, 7:15 pm

"Lorem Ipsum" <Lorem@ipsum.xxx> wrote in message
news:11g9e0cre819005@news.supernews.com...
> "Kinu Panda" <mtr@kinupanda.com> wrote in message
> news:de15kp$16q$1@domitilla.aioe.org...
>
>
> CHEAP AND DIRTY way that works if you want to do it WITHOUT SCRIPTING.
> The results are the same.
> First, with your handy spreadsheet program create a single column as shown
> here:
>
> emumerate
> 1
> 2
> 3
> (auto fill to 1,000. There is a button in every spreadsheet to do this)
>
> Then save that file as comma delimited.
>
> Now...
> Open ImageReady (it comes with Photoshop).
> Open the image you want to enumerate.
> Create a new layer.
> Type "1" in it with the text centered or right justifed, whatever. (This
> will be replaced.)
>
> Then right-click on that layer - to the right of the icon. (there are two
> right-click options. You must click to the right of the icon.)
> Take the Variables option.
> In the first window, click on the lower option for [X] Text Replacement
> Then type the word enumerate in the text box
> press the NEXT button
> Then in the window that shows next, press IMPORT
> find the file you just created and press Open
>
> To be safe, now save the file.
>
> Finally, under the menu File - Export - Data Sets as Files
> press OKAY
>
> Wait a couple minutes and you will have 1000 photoshop images, each with a
> text layer numbered 1 to 1000.
>
> (In the last dialog - Export - you can change the naming convention to
> what you like. It doesn't change the contents of the image. You can also
> use CS's Browser to rename the files afterwards and batch the whole group
> of images to JPEG or GIF if you like. Alternatively, there's a free
> Droplet in Photoshop's "Samples" folder that will do this. Just drag it
> into the folder, then drag all your files onto it.)
>
> How's that for working around scripting? :)
>
> FWIW, there is server technology that obviates making a thousand copies,
> and fiinally if you are handy with Javascript, you can do this with one
> image and layers that enumerates upon creation.)
>
what a great idea!
now I learned 2 new Image Ready things
and a new Excel thing!

Hecate

2005-08-18, 7:15 pm

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:32:12 -0500, "Lorem Ipsum" <Lorem@ipsum.xxx>
wrote:

>How's that for working around scripting? :)
>
>FWIW, there is server technology that obviates making a thousand copies, and
>fiinally if you are handy with Javascript, you can do this with one image
>and layers that enumerates upon creation.)
>
Clever - I've always preferred "quick and dirty" ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

Lorem Ipsum

2005-08-18, 11:14 pm

"Hecate" <hecate@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:j51ag1hio2e6dov6r4iuobjuo5kk1jatuo@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 11:32:12 -0500, "Lorem Ipsum" <Lorem@ipsum.xxx>
> wrote:
>
>
[color=darkred]
> Clever - I've always preferred "quick and dirty" ;-)

I think I'll put that tip into my book entitled Nooners.

Hecate

2005-08-19, 7:14 pm

On Thu, 18 Aug 2005 18:36:01 -0500, "Lorem Ipsum" <nospam@nospam.com>
wrote:

>"Hecate" <hecate@newsguy.com> wrote in message
>news:j51ag1hio2e6dov6r4iuobjuo5kk1jatuo@4ax.com...
>
>
>I think I'll put that tip into my book entitled Nooners.
>
LOL!

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...